RESUMEN
Progress in improving the out come of meningiococal meningitis may stem as much from newer development in the management of the pathophysiologic consequences of the disease as from the introduction of new generation of antimicrobial agents. Aspects of the host response to infection such as the release of cytokines may be contributing to the high morbidity of the disease; Serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF alpha] and interleukin 6 [IL-6] and anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 10 [IL-10] were measured in twenty two patients of meningiococal meningitis and matched control subjects. These patients were divided into two groups according to clinical and laboratory investigation; group I: meningitis without septic shock [n= 17] and group II: meningitis with shock [n5 5]. The concentration of inflammatory cytokines' were significantly increased in patients in comparison to control group [P<0.001]. The serum levels of TNF alpha and IL-6 were significantly higher [P<0.001] in group II patients but the serum levels of IL-10 were the same in patients of both groups at time of admission and after four days. The mean serum levels changes of inflammatory cytokines were significantly high in group I patients [P<0.001] and insignificant in group II patients at time of admission and after four days. It is concluded that inflammatory cytokines are simultaneously increased and are strongly associated with severity of the disease